Every year, I look forward to my family’s visits to China to see my parents and siblings.

While I am grateful to be able to also get together with several high school classmates, the Karaoke part of the programming is a disaster for me.

So, I signed up for 10 private singing lessons (online) with a teacher in southern China. 

My goal is to be able to sing two karaoke songs when I visit China late December this year. Oh boy, wouldn't that be exhilarating?! 

At the end of lesson 3, maybe it's because he could tell I forgot to practice between lessons, my teacher looked into my eyes and gave me these deliberate and serious comments: 

Yan, I have taught you everything you need to know to achieve your goal.
 
1: How do you create sound in your sound chambers using the shape of your mouth.
2: How do you take in breath and make it the engine of your singing.
3: How do you deploy the breath (exhale) while you sing.

So now it's up to you to practice in between your lessons. When we come together in the next several lessons, we can see how you are doing, celebrate the good work, help you make specific corrections based on your practice. 

Embarrassed. My face turned slightly red, I think. 

What he said reminded me of the work I do with my coaching clients (which made it more embarrassing for me, since I should know better). 

I would always say, "If you are a marathon runner, the coach does not do the running, the ATHLETE does the running."

So if I know I want to improve on a specific thing, having the intention and support is not enough. I need to do the work myself. Own it. Embody it. 

PS.

Resources:

1. Read the book "Leadership Unlocked" (Chapters 8-12) on how to use embodied actions to elevate the "outer game." 

2. Contact me if you'd like some support on making transformative changes in your leadership.